6.0 p.m

I beg to move, in page 4, line 29, to leave out "by statutory instrument."

We desire this deletion because the Statutory Instruments Act of 1946 has not yet come into operation. It will come into operation at some date later, we hope this year. But at the moment it has not begun to operate. It is our view that a reference, in a Bill, to the Act of 1946 before it is actually in operation, would be an anachronism. We think, therefore, that these words should be deleted from this Clause. It will make no difference in the long run, because, as and when the Act of 1946 is put into operation, it will automatically make any rules made by the National Debt Commissioners under this Clause a statutory instrument. Whether the words are included or not, the effect eventually will be the same, but, as the original Act has not yet been put into operation, we think it is well to delete them.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 4 and 5 ordered to stand part of the Bill.